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A new focused KADK

Date
27.09.2016
Category
Insight

With a new plan of action, KADK wants to ensure that the architects and designers of tomorrow will be better equipped to meet the demand for technological and vocational skills, and that even during their time at college they will establish professional networks to help them find jobs more quickly.

KADK has been ordered to cut down on the intake of students for architecture and design courses by 30% because of the high unemployment rate amongst graduates. That means a corresponding decrease in funding – and at the same time KADK must supply around 8% of its budget for a contribution to the Government’s reprioritisation. Overall, KADK must save DKK 28.7 million by 2019. Savings will have to be made by a reduction in operating and building expenses, and by pay cuts.

“It is clear that dimensioning on this scale is a difficult task, but it is a task we have taken on, because we are naturally keen on seeing our graduates find jobs more quickly. It is also a task we are convinced we can handle. More than ever, there is a need for qualified graduates who can think creatively and work professionally. That is what our graduates can do, and in the future they will be even better at it,” says the Rector, Lene Dammand Lund.

Specifically, the plan of action specifies that KADK will focus closely on three main areas:

Technological and vocational competencies 

  • Joint teaching will be strengthened across KADK to ensure that the students acquire both technical and vocational qualifications.
  •  We will establish a joint high-tech laboratory (the KADK ‘tech lab’), which will also be made available to companies and the research environment at KADK.
  • We will establish a new postgraduate programme in conjunction with Copenhagen Business School and other relevant educational institutions. 

Professional networking and matchmaking

  • We will introduce compulsory internships or internship-like courses in the 6th semester, so all students will be guaranteed relevant professional experience during their studies.
  • We will establish a dialogue platform with industries and the business community to guarantee the systematic exposure of the students’ portfolios and an opportunity for matchmaking.
  • There will be greater focus on start-up environments 

Knowledge of the graduates’ competencies in society and the business community

  • Each year we will identify a socially relevant common theme for all degree projects so that each individual project makes greater impact and has more power.
  • A more offensive communication strategy

The new focus of our programmes on technological and vocational skills should be regarded as a targeting of the traditions and the strong, scientific professionalism, in which KADK is currently rooted, and which will also constitute the institution’s foundation in the future.

“KADK is a major academy of art with solid roots in a creative tradition. The innovative capabilities of our graduates are some of the best in the world. That will also be the case in the future. This plan of action will make it easier for graduates to make their mark on the society of tomorrow, and to contribute new, constructive knowledge to the many companies and institutions in Denmark. It is an offensive strategy, intended to prepare our architects and designers for the labour market of the future,” says the Rector, Lene Dammand Lund. In organisational terms, the action plan involves phasing out 6 undergraduate programmes, 7 postgraduate programmes and 1 institute in the School of Design. In the School of Architecture, there will be a reduction of 4 postgraduate programmes by 2023.

The plan of action has now been submitted for discussion and comment to KADK’s joint working committee.